There was palpable undercurrent of despondency in the manner ‘Freedom of Goa’ day was observed on Friday. The display of enthusiasm by the Goans in India was less real than in the past; as Friday marked the 450th anniversary of the re-conquest of Goa by Afonso d’ Albuqurque, freedom for Goa seemed a long way off. Another reason for the sombre mood of the Goans was the Government of India’s policy towards Portuguese possessions in India. This policy, made up of mixture of smugness and something that approximates to euphoria, is not exactly calculated to enthuse the Goans a to press their claim for freedom. Even Shri Nehru’s statement in the Lok Sabha that there had been a considerable change in world opinion regarding Goa, appeared to suggest that the government was in no mood to change its Goa policy which means that the it sees nothing wrong with its present vague stand on Goa which is largely due to the its refusal to admit its past mistakes and proceed to evolve a new and vigorous policy which would enthuse the colonial subjects of the Portuguese in India. Against this background of apathy, Shri Krishna Menon’s brave words addressed to the UN Trusteeship Committee that “we reserve to ourselves the right to liberate this remnant colonial rule” make little sense to the Goans. It must also be conceded that these words have evoked some encouraging response from Afro-Asian people’s Solidarity Committee, sponsors of ‘Freedom of Goa’ day. The Indian Association for Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee proposes to discuss the Goa issue at its 3rd National Conference to be convened early next month in Bombay. The avowed objective is to bring about a change in the mental attitude of the Indian Government by building up public opinion in favour of a more positive policy with regard to Goa. The Association doesn’t suggest that the government should take any precipitate military or police action but expects to impress upon the government, the need to re-examine its relations with certain “friendly” countries with which Portugal has contrived to establish unnatural trade and military relations with a view to holding down its overseas possessions intact. There is also a suggestion that the government must investigate into the anti-Indian activities of certain Indian vested interests, who have, without feeling the slightest embarrassment, begun to look towards Goa as a sanctuary from the tax laws of India. The Government will be well advised to consider these suggestions seriously.
26th November, 1960.
